Deke Bellavia

Deke: Saints return home for last week of training camp

by Deke Bellavia,posted Aug 10 2012 12:07AM

There are only a few days left of training camp for the New Orleans Saints. The Black and Gold will enjoy three days off before getting back to work on Monday to begin preparing for their third preseason game. The Saints will practice Monday through Thursday before entertaining the Jacksonville Jaguars Friday Night August 17.

“We’ve got a big week coming up. It’s the last week of training camp and we have a lot of cleaning up to do,” said Saints Coach Joe Vitt following the Saints’ 7-6 loss to the New England Patriots. Certainly when you break things down the Saints defense has done well against the opposing team’s starting offense.

Tom Brady was just 4-of-7 for 30 yards against the Saints defense, and the Black and Gold was able to sack Brady in their game against the Patriots. “I thought our first team defense has done a pretty good job with pressuring the QB the last two weeks,” said Bobby Hebert. The Saints defense also put good pressure on the Cardinals quarterbacks and forced two interceptions in the 17-10 win over Arizona.

The Saints are 1-1 this preseason thus far, but looking at the as glass half full, you’d have to agree that the defense has made strides. The Saints are no longer a blitz-happy defensive unit; instead, they are looking to get more of a pass rush from their front four.
Bright spots have come from Will Smith, Junior Gallette, Tyrunn Walker and Cam Jordan, among others. Akiem Hicks has shown progress as well, and the depth along the Saints D-Line looks to be pretty salty right now.

The next two preseason games will give us more of a gauge of where the Saints are this preseason. We will see the Saints’ starters play the most they will play this pre-season in the upcoming games against the Jaguars and the Texans.

So far, Courtney Roby, Andy Tanner, and Joe Morgan have made plays, with Roby and Tanner making a couple of more plays than Morgan. There are not many spots open on the Saints roster, but as we come down to the final three games this preseason, we will learn which of the lesser-known players will make the Saints roster.